For more information, please contact Alex Rittberg, DNREC Tank Management Branch,  302-395-2500, or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Aug. 6, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 267 

DNREC’s Tank Management Branch recognized
by EPA for meeting cleanup program goals

DOVER – The US Environmental Protection Agency has recognized DNREC’s Tank Management Branch for meeting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) spending goals associated with cleaning up releases of petroleum from leaking underground storage tanks. DNREC is spending $1.2 million in federal stimulus funding to clean up 17 sites where the responsible parties no longer exist or where property owners have refused to perform the work. Leaking underground storage tanks continue to be a threat to Delaware’s drinking water supplies, with 70 percent of the state’s population relying on groundwater as their source of drinking water. 

DNREC's Tank Management Branch was also involved in and received thanks for supporting EPA’s enforcement case against Robert M. Duncan and Duncan Petroleum Inc. The EPA announced a settlement this week with Duncan in which he agreed to pay a $2 million penalty for alleged violations of federal and state underground storage tank regulations at 17 gas stations in Delaware and Maryland. Four of the eight stations cited in Delaware had a long history of compliance issues with state regulations, resulting in penalties and fines first issued by DNREC in 1997 and continuing through 2006 when the EPA’s inspections took place.

To prevent leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs), DNREC’s Tank Management Branch now inspects Delaware’s 488 gas stations and other types of underground storage tank facilities at least once every three years for operation and maintenance activities required by state regulations. An inspection  typically includes making sure that gas station owners and operators are monitoring the tank systems for leaks, have functioning overfill and spill prevention equipment, making sure corrosion protection equipment is functioning, have financial assurance to pay for cleanup if leaks occur, and keeping track of their inventory to make sure they are not losing product. Prior to 2005 DNREC was inspecting these facilities on a five-year frequency plan.

In addition Delaware regulations now require owners and operator of gas stations and other types of UST facilities to conduct their own inspections looking for leaks once every 30 days. “Maintaining underground storage tanks systems to prevent leaks takes constant vigilance, but if systems are maintained and operated by trained people releases of petroleum to Delaware’s environment can be prevented,” said Alex Rittberg, Tank Management Branch program manager.

To help them better understand their underground storage tank systems DNREC regulations now require all owners and operators of gas stations to attend  a classroom training course at Delaware Technical and Community College (DelTech) by 2012. DelTech will conduct the first training course for UST owners and operators August 17 and 19 at the school’s Environmental Training Center in Georgetown. The course is 8 hours in length and costs $149.

For more information, please call Alex Rittberg, Tank Management Branch program manager, at 302-395-2500.